Go to the market place to see what the top selling products or services are.
To find the top selling information products in online markets, for example, I
But, also consider checking out www.amazon.com who are a leading online book retailer and can be a valuable resource for interviewing leads. Search
for recently published books that relate to your market or industry. Any
author who has recently published a book will be keen to promote it and
most likely will welcome an interview opportunity. They are usually also quite
used to giving interviews. Authors will want to talk about their book and their
ideas and this is a great opportunity to interview someone who is topical and
may offer something unique to your clients.
~ Measure your mind's height by the shade it casts. ~
Robert Browning
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Finding An Expert By Name
If you have the names of experts you wish to interview, you can start off by
Googling them.
Log on to www.google.com and run a search under their name. Most often, this will bring up their personal or business home page. This not only gives
you their contact details, it also gives you an opportunity to find out more
about them.
This is really easy and very effective and I have done it many times in
arranging interviews.
Another way you can use search engines to your advantage is to ‘Google’
publishing houses. Find out what books or titles are about to be released and
then offer to interview the authors. Most authors will jump at the opportunity
to be interviewed as this is giving them free exposure and promotion for their
new book.
~ Money is for making things happen. ~
Richard Branson
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Summary
Source experts by looking at blog posts on specific topics.
Search for articles on a given topic and then find out who the top authors
are.
Check out websites such as www.rtir.com and www.expertclick.com these are a great resource for finding experts who are actively looking for
exposure/publicity.
Think about searching online for topics such as seminars, speakers, best-
selling authors or simply enter Wealth Experts, Health Experts, Real Estate,
Forex - you get the idea, right?
To find the top selling information products for online markets, go to
clickbank.com and search for the product developer or owner.
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Chapter Seven
STEP 2: How to Prepare for Your Interview
~ Bring into play the almighty power within you,
so that on the stage of life you can fulfill your high destined role. ~
Paramahansa Yogananda
What You Need To Know About Online Interviewing Equipment
Preparation is vital when interviewing. Simple things like having the right
equipment and software or learning what questions to ask can ensure you
get the most out of every interview.
The Internet provides you with telephone and video conference options
across the globe.
Let’s start off by looking at basic equipment that you will need to conduct a
successful online interview.
It’s my assumption that you will have a personal computer and Internet
connection. It helps to have a high speed Internet connection so that
communication comes through clearly.
In addition to your computer you will need a headset and microphone.
Logitech Headset
AT2020 Pro Microphone
I use a Logitech headset that retails for +/- $30 and a professional AT2020
microphone that costs approximately $100. If you want to use video
conferencing, you will also need a web camera.
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Many new computers come with a built in web camera in the screen, but you
can also get inexpensive cameras that you can attach externally.
~ Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question ~
E. E. Cummings
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What You Need To Know About Conference Calling Facilities
There are several FREE conference calling providers that you can use to
conduct your interviews.
Three popular sites you can check out are:
1. www.skypefreeconferencecall.com
2. www.TheBasementVentures.com
Personally, I use Skype and Your Conference for most of my interviews.
However, if you run an online search, you may find many different
conference calling systems that are equally as efficient.
To record video interviews, I have found a service provider called Vodburner
which is brilliant. You can download a free trial or the complete software
package by following this link: www.Vodburner.com. This provider offers video conferencing with an option to record the interview.
What really appeals to me is that I can use this software in conjunction with
Skype. If you are using the system with other Vodburner users then the
service is free. To call people that are non-Vodburner users, however you will
need to purchase a license that costs $99.
Just think of the impact that this will have for you; not only do you have an
audio of the recording but you have a video of it also.
Using an online conference calling service allows you to interview people
anywhere in the world. It also allows you to speak to several different people
on a single call. This is especially useful if you are hosting a discussion
platform where various experts have the opportunity to express their views
on a specific topic.
~ The more elaborate our means of
communication, the less we communicate. ~
Joseph Priestley
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Recording Software
You will get the most value from your interview if you are able to record it.
Remember that your object is to be able to create information products from
the interview which you can then sell to your clients. Having an audio or
video recording of the interview will help you to achieve this.
This is a screenshot showing the video conference recording on Vodburner.
Screenshot of Vodburner
An interview with Andrew Warner
~ Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. ~
Albert Einstein
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Testing Your Equipment And Software
An important part of your preparation is testing your software and
equipment. Make sure that the video and audio is coming through clearly.
Make sure that the recording software is actually recording what is being
said.
I use Vodburner to record my interviews that I conduct on Skype, but only if
the interviewee agrees to have a video interview of course. It is a system
that I have found works well for me. You may have your own personal
preferences, and that’s okay, as long as your system works effectively.
~ When people talk, listen completely.
Most people never listen. ~
Ernest Hemingway
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Personal Preparation
Find an environment where you can practice your interviewing skills. It’s a
good idea to start out by practicing interviews with your friends and family
members.
My first interview was during a practice session at a seminar I attended. At
the seminar everyone was paired up and then given five minutes each to
interview one other. As everyone was equally nervous, it provided a great
atmosphere in which to start. The more you practice, the more confident you
will become, and then you will conduct more powerful interviews which will
make you money.
Have a positive mind-set when approaching your interview. Spend some
time researching the person you will be interviewing - this is a key secret
here; do as much research as you can. The more information you have on
your interviewee the better, as this will allow you to ask questions that are
really relevant and knowledgeable, and not like the same old stuff they may
have done in previous interviews. Make your interview as original and
thought-provoking as possible by obtaining valuable content in the interview
that people have never heard before and can use immediately to better
themselves.
If they have written a book, get your hands on a copy of it and read it before
the interview. This will enable you to ask more pertinent and informed
questions during the interview. When you take the time to research and do
your homework on the interviewee, it certainly pays off.
Know what their achievements are and why you want to interview them. Go
into the interview knowing what you want to get out of it. This will help you
to structure your interview and ask the right questions.
Most importantly, remember to keep your comments and opinions to a
minimum. Instead, let your interviewee talk and focus on listening while
showing a keen interest in what is being said. But, you need to be engaging
also.
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Have a blank piece of paper and pen ready so that you can write down
questions that come to mind as you are talking. This will keep the interview
flowing and ensure that you ask questions that are consistent with the topic
of discussion.
~ What we do in life echoes in eternity. ~
Maximus Decimus Meridius
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Summary
Preparation is vital; make sure that you are well prepared from the start.
Consider the following free conference calling providers:-
www.skypefreeconferencecall.com
Take a look at Vodburner for live on-screen interviews. Hardly anyone is
using this method in doing interviews.
Do your research. Look at their achievements, books they have written,
audio programs, DVD packages, anything where you can learn their story
and what they do.
Always show a genuine desire and keen interest in your guest. Be engaging
and listen.
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Chapter Eight
STEP 3: How to Ask The Right Questions from the Start
~ You get the best out of others when
you get the best out of yourself. ~
Harvey Firestone
Interview Invite Templates
Asking the right questions starts long before the actual interview. In fact,
asking the right questions will often determine if you even get the interview
or not in the first place.
This is an important part of your preparation. You must show a genuine
desire in helping them.
The approach that I’ve found to be the most successful is to ask these 2
powerful questions: (Keep these a secret. ☺)
“Can I help you sell more of your products?”
OR
“Can I help to promote your business and expertise?”
These are simple but powerful questions. They demonstrate to the person
you’re speaking to, that there is a real benefit to them and that they have
absolutely nothing to lose by doing an interview with you.
Remember to make it as easy as possible for them to say yes and having a
clear benefit to them will put you in a great position that makes you stand
out from everybody else.
Once you’ve asked one of the above questions, you will then have the
opportunity to explain the interview process and desired outcomes. Be very
clear in explaining your plan to create products from the interview that you
can both benefit from. I always make the benefits to the interviewee far
more than what I will gain from the interview, and I would suggest that you
do the same. More on this later…
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On the rare occasion I have had someone who I’ve wanted to get an
interview with, wanting to take total control over the interview. They haven’t
wanted me to give away any free samples, and sometimes have only wanted
just a minute or two of recording to be used for promotion. Some have
wanted to change the design of the graphics and to retain all rights of the
recording.
This will not benefit you at all because you are building your brand and
expertise, and you may decide to give away interviews to build up your
credibility and authority. How can you do this if you have no control of the
finished product?
But hey, you can do whatever you like; whichever works best for you is the
right way. I’m only providing suggestions on what I would do and what has
worked well for me.
Now there will be others who will simply say no, or that interviewing is not
for them. What do you do when this happens?
There are 2 simple answers to this.
Firstly, you can say to yourself ‘next’ and just move on to someone else.
When this happens, you need to thank them for their time. Don’t worry about
it. It will happen at some point, I guarantee that.
But, there are so many experts out there that will jump at the opportunity,
I’ve had my fair share of no’s but I have also had many more great
interviews.
It’s most important to get across the message that you simply want to access
some of their personal wisdom in exchange for providing them some
exposure .
This is important especially when you are just starting out.
Or, secondly, you could send them a gift or gifts until they say yes. What do
I mean by this?
Well think of it this way; let’s say you’re interested in interviewing a top CEO
of a company. For this example let’s presume it is a man. Now, his time is
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very limited because he is a very busy person, and then you pop up and say,
“Hello Mr. CEO, Can I help to promote your business and your expertise?”
At first he may not see any value in this for himself, especially if you are just
starting out and have little credibility.
Let’s presume that he has decided that it is not for him (just yet).
Now, what I’m about to share with you is really powerful stuff. I cannot
emphasize this enough; if you really want to make an impact check this out…
Do not cut yourself short by ignoring it.
But what if you were to send a special delivery note with your card, {*please
see picture of business card to use on the next page} maybe some flowers,
or chocolates, (who doesn’t like chocolates). It could be anything right?
You could even send a pizza to arrive at lunch time. Just think of something
that they would like, and this simple technique will blow them away, because
no one else does this. In fact most people would not even consider it.
Now it’s really important that you don’t just send it as a one-time only gift,
as this will have only a small effect. I would continue to do this on a daily or
weekly basis until I got the answer I wanted, a “yes”!
Can you see how powerful this is and the impact that this will have? How
many others would be prepared to do this? I can tell you very few, if any.
This approach alone will set you head and shoulders above others.
To start off with I would not recommend doing this until you have some
credibility and confidence by having several interviews under your belt.
This will really help you in getting a yes when you can show proof of
successful interviews.
*When using a business card, always have testimonials from experts you
have interviewed on the back.
There is an example of what I mean below …
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Show a genuine interest in the person you wish to interview. Offer to
promote the interview for free, just to get their knowledge out there. This will
clearly demonstrate to them how much you value the opportunity to
interview them.
One of my most memorable interviews was one that I got to do face-to-face.
I was curious as to why this particular guest had invited me to do so. So I
asked him.
It was an interview with Nick James, a multi-millionaire UK based marketer,
and he’d invited me to conduct the interview with him in his own private
studio. It seemed a bit unreal to me. His answer was simply: ‘It’s the way
you asked me.’
Now it’s very important for you to realize, that it was not because I am so
great. ;-)
It was the questions I had asked, and I got these from Brett’s book, ‘How To
Make Money While You Sleep’ on page 66.
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This illustrates the power of asking the right questions right from the start.
Asking the right questions has opened up the interview opportunity
for me.
This is the exact same script that I’d used when I was first starting out and
was from my mentor Brett McFall which you can see on the following page:
You will find this a great resource, especially in the early days… Enjoy
Hi (Name)
I was wondering if you would be interested in letting me promote your
business and expertise. If so, there's no charge.
What I would like to do is interview you and turn the recording into an e-
book, CD and /or DVD. This way I can showcase your expertise by asking you
questions that you can answer with ease.
Then, at the end of the recording, you will have the opportunity to promote
your company / website.
I'll do all the promotion for the interview. All you have to do is allow me to
interview you for one hour.
Would this sort of promotional tool be of interest for you?
Warmly
(Your name here)